Automatic shoe-shining machine.



G. W. MARTIN GI C. PRICE.

AUTOMATIC SHOE SHINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7. IBM. 1 267 50 Patented May 28, 1918.

2 SHEETS-r-SHEET I.-

G. W. TIHRTIII ""P C. PRICE, 4

w H. SIAM G. W. MARTIN & C. PRICE.

AUTOMATIC SHOE SHINING MACHINE.

APVLICATION FILED APR. 7. 1917.

Patented May 28,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

GXY. MHRTINRHD GEORGE MARTIN AND CHARLES PRICE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

' Auroma'no snpn-snmme macnnvnf exact description 0 the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to. make and use the same.

The present invention relates to a shoe shining machine, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby it is automatic in its operation and can be controlled by the passage of a coin through a slot. v

F urthen objects of the invention are to provide a shoe shining machine which has a compact arrangement of parts, which will successively perform in a thoroughly satisfactory manner the several operations of applying blacking to the shoes, shining the shoes and subsequently polishing them, and which is not liable to get out of repair.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in'the appended claims.

For. a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following descri tion and accom an in drawin s inwhich Figure 1 is a top lan view of the mechanism of the shoe shining machine, the sur rounding casing being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the shoe shining machine on the line 22 of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 4.-4 of Fig. 1.

' tion.-

Fig, 5 is a detail view ofthe outer end of one of the brush carrying plungers with the I: brushes mounted thereon, portions being broken away and shown in section to illustrate more clearly the details of construc- Fig. is an end View of one of the brush carrying plungers.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May as, 1918.

Application filed April 7, 1911. Serial No. 160,415.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the coin chute and a diagrammatic view of the electric circuits.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of the coin chute.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a'preferred embodiment of the invention, the reference character A designates a comparatively shallow horizontally disposed casing within which the shoe shining mechanism is mounted, a seat B being provided at the back of the casing, and the top of the casing being provided with an opening 0 through which the feet can be inserted for the purpose of properly positioning the shoes upon the respective foot plates P. Arranged within the back of the casing A is a shaft 1 which is journaled within suitable bearings 2 and provided with two crank ortions 1*, and a third crank portion 1". he crank portions 1 are disposed directly back of the respective foot plates P, while the third crank portion 1 is connected by a spring 3 to the back of the casing, said spring serving" to bring the crank shaft to rest with the crank portions 1 thereof projecting rearwardly, as] indicated by Fig. 1.

. The two ends of the double crank shaft 1 are to reciprocate back and forth between the horizontally disposed guides 11. A pair of arms 12 is bolted or otherwise secured to each of the cross heads 10, said arms being formed with vertically disposed bearings 12 which receive pivot pins 13 at the rear ends of forwardly extending and horizontally disposed brush carrying plungers 14. The ends of the pivot pins 13 have screws 15 or'like members applied thereto so that the brush carrying plungers 14 must reciprocate longitudinal axis.

back and forth with the brush heads, al-

though they are each free to. rotate about a The forward end of each of the rear brush carrying plungers 14 is provided with three brushes 16 which are supported at the sides of the plunger and arranged at substantially right angles to each other. Projecting from the back of each of the brushes 16 and rigid therewith is a polygonal guide rod 17 which extends transversely through the lunger 14 and slidably engages the same, t e end of the polygonal guide rod being capped by a nut 18. Coil springs 19 are interposed between the opposite ends of the several brushes 16 and the plunger 14 and normally tend to move the brushes 16 away from the plunger. It will be obvious, however, that the brushes are .slidably mounted and can be forced inward against the action of the springs 19, although they are held securely against rotary movement, owing to the fact that the guide rods 17 are polygonal in cross section.

The brush carrying plungers 14 are arranged uponopposite sides of the foot plates P and reciprocate through the respective forked guide standards 20 and 21. Mounted upon one of the brush carrying plungers 14 .and arranged between the two arms of the forked guide standard 20 are a fiber gear wheel 22, a notched disk 23, and a cam 24. These members have a feather and spline connection with the reciprocating plunger so as to rotate therewith, although they are held against reciprocating movement by the arms of the forked guide standard 20. In this connection it will be noted that each of the reciprocating plungers 14 is provided with a series of longitudinally extending ribs 14 which are received within corresponding notches'at the peripheries'of the central openings provided in the fiber wheels 22, notched disks 23, and cams 24. Eachof the brush carrying plungers 14 is provided with a fiber wheel 22, although only one plunger of each pair is provided with a notched disk 23 and a cam-24, the two fiber gears 22 of .each pair of plungers 14 meshing with each other so that the two plungers will be simultaneously rotated in opposite directions about their longitudinal axesQ A helical spring 25 surrounds each of the plungers 14, which is provided with a cam 24, one end of the spring being secured to the said shaft, while the -opposite end thereof is secured to some fixed support.- By applying a detachable hand crank of any wellknown type to the square heads 26 at the ends of the brush-carrying plungers 14, the said plungers can be rotated to place the helical springs 25 under tension. Detents 27 are then caused to engage selected notches in the peripheries of the disks 23, thereby locking the plungers 14 against rotation and blacking pot 31.. Asprin maintaining the helical springs 25 under tension. Electro-magnets 28 are provided for lifting the detents 27 into inoperative position and permitting the plungers 14 to be rotated by the springs 25. It will be obvious that by momentarily lifting the detents 27 and disengaging them from one set .of notches, they will ride uponthe peripheri'es of the disks 23 and drop automatically into the next set of notches when the plungers have rotated a sufiicient amount; With the present arrangement of the parts of the plungers will rotate exactly one quarter of a revolution each time the magnetic detent's 27 are actuated, thereby bringing another one of the brushes 16 into operative position,

or swinging all the brushes in an inoperative position.

The cams 24 are ,deslgned to engage the upturned rear ends of levers 29 which are pivotallymounted between their ends upon suitable brackets 30, and have their opposite ends upturned and provided with a suitable- 32 is connected to the lever 29 and normal y tends to swing the lever and lower the blacking pot into inoperative position, although at the proper pot into position to be engaged-by the first of the brushes 16 which are caused to ass back and forth along the sides of the s oe.

By the successive operation of the magnetic detents 27 the plungers 14 are subsequently rotated to bring the other brushes 16 into engagement with the sides of the shoe, those a of the brushes 16 which follow the blacking brushes serving to shine the shoes, while the last set of brushes serve to put the finishing polish upon the shoes, and may be especially constructed for this purpose,'if desired.

The side shafts 5 are each formed with a slngle crank portion 5 which is connected by a pitman 33 to a cross head 34 mounted between guides 35. Brush carrying plungers 36 which are similar to the before described plungers 14 have a swivel connection with the cross heads 34, exactly as previously described, being thereby connected to the cross heads so as to be reciprocated back and forth thereby, but being free to rotate about their longitudinal axes.

brushes 37 is applied to the outer end of A set of three each of the plungers 36- and yieldably mounted 1n pos1t1on thereon in the' same manner in which the before mentioned,

brushes 16 are mounted upon the plungers 130 p 14. These brush carrying plungers 36 each slide through forked guides 38 and have a feather and spline connection with a notched disk 23 and a cam 24, said elements being mounted 'exactl as in the previous instance, and the cam eing engaged by a helical spring 25 which is adapted to be initially placed under tension by rotating the plunger 36. The blacking pots 39- for the forward sets of brushes 37 are horizontally disposed, instead of vertically disposed as in the previous instance, but are carried in a similar manner by oscillating levers 40 which are pivotally mounted at intermediate points between their ends upon brackets 41, and arranged to be actuated by the cams 24. The

' theupper U-shaped section 42 is connected by an insulated guide tube 44 to the entrance opening 45 for the coin, while the free end of the lower U-shaped section 42 is connected to an insulated discharge section 46 from which the coin is finally deposited into a drawer or other suitable receptacle. Each of the U-shaped sections 42 is formed with opposed u per and lower channels separated by insulation 42, as indicated more clearly by Fig. 8. The. two halves or channels are thus normally insulated from each other, although a coin 47 in passing through the chute will produce an electrical connection between the channels. The opposed halves or channels of the several U-shaped chute sections 42 are connected by the respective branch wires 48 and 49 to the terminal wires 50 of the main circuit which includes the motor 8. It will thus be obvious that as the coin passes successively through the U- shaped coin chute sections 42 the motor 8 will be actuated and the shoe shining mechanism operated, the motor remaining in operation during the full length of time that the coin consumes in passi through each of the chute sections 40, an stopping during the short intervening periods of time when the coin is passing through the con necting elbows 43.

The insulated connecting elbows 43,, and also the insulated chutesections 44 and 46 are provided with. opposed contact elements 51 which are normally insulated from each other, but will be electrically connected by a coin as it passes between the same. These contact elements 51 are connected by the respective branch wires 52 and 53 to the terminal wires 54 of an electric circuit which derives its energy from the batteries 55, and has all of the magnets 28 of the different detents 27 arranged in arallel therewith.

In the operation of t e machine, the brush carrying plungers 14 and 36 are initially in such a position that all of the brushes are inoperative. When a coin is inserted in ,the coin chute it will first pass through the insulated chute section 44 and electrically connect the contact plates 51 thereof, thereby momentarily energizingl' all of the magnets 28 and lifting all of t e detents 27 out of engagement with the notched disks 23. The springs 25 will then operate to rotate all of the brush carrying plungers exactly one quarter revolution and bring one set of brushes into operative position. The cams 24 will then be in position for lifting the paste pots 31 and 39 into position to be engaged by these brushes. From the insulated chute section 44 the coin will enter and travel through the upper U-sha ed chute section 42, and during-the time 0 its travel through this chute section 42 the motor 8 will be in operation, thereby causin the first set of brushes to be reciprocated Eack and forth upon the shoes, the brushes 37 acting upon the toes of the shoes, while the brushes 16 act upon the sides of the shoes. These first brushes which are brought into operation will carry blacking from the pots 31 and 39 to the shoes and cover the shoes thoroughly with a suitable preparation. From the upper chute section 42 the coin will pass through the first insulated elbow 43 and electrically connect the contact points 51 thereof, thereby again actuating all of the detents 27 and permitting all of the brush carrying plungers to be again rotated one quarter revolution by the springs 25. A second set of brushes are thusbrought into operative position, and as the coin travels through the the second chute section 42 the coin passes through a second insulated elbow 43 and again actuates all of the magnetic detents 27, permitting all of the brush carrying plungers to be again rotated one quarter revolution by the springs 25. The third set of brushes are thus brought into operative position, and as the coin travels through the third -U-shaped chute section 42 this third set of brushes, which constitute the polishing brushes, are moved back and forth upon the shoes. This completes the shoe shining operation and as the coin is discharged through the lower insulated chute section 46 it causes the magnetic detents 27 to be actu ated for a fourth time, whereupon the brush carrying plungers 14 and. 36 are rotated by the sprmgs 25 into their original positions.

4 It is contemplated to arrange the parts so that the coin will consume approximately three minutes of time in its passage through the chute, and the spring3 will always cause the mechanism to come to rest with the rear brush carrying plungers l4 retracted and the side brush carrying plungers 36 projected beyond the respective foot plates 3.-

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1. A shoe shining machine including a foot'plate, a brush carrying plunger, means for reciprocatin the plunger' back and forth in operative re ation to the foot plate, a dauber carried by the longer, means for rotating the plunger to the dauber into and out o operative position, a blacking pot, and automatic means actuated by the plunger for bringin the blacking pot into position to supplylacking to the dauber when the latter is in position to act upon the shoe.

' foot plate, a brush carrying plunger, means for reciprocating the plunger back and forth 2. A shoe shining machine including a foot plate, a brush carrying plun er, means for reciprocating the plunger ack and forth in operative relation to the foot plate, a series of brushes carried by the plunger, means for rotating the plunger to bring the different brushes successively into operative position, a blacking pot, and automatic means actuated by the plunger for bringing the .blacking pot into position to supply blacking to one of the brushes.

3. A shoe shining machine including a foot plate, a brush carrying plunger, means for reciprocating the plunger back and forth inoperative relation to the foot plate, a series of brushes carried by the plunger, means for rotating the plunger to bring the different brushes successively into operative position, a blacking pot, a cam upon the plunger, and means actuated by the cam for automatically moving the blacking pot into position for supplying blacking to one of the brushes.

3A shoe shining machine including a foot plate, a brush carrying plunger, means for reciprocating the plunger back and forth in operative relation to the foot plate, aseries of brushes carried by the plunger, means for rotating the plunger to bring the different brushes successively into operative position, a blacking pot, an oscillating lever carrying the blacking pot, and a cam mounted upon the lunger for cooperation with the oscillating ever to move'the blacking pot into position to supply blacking to one of the brushes.

5. A shoe shining machine including a in operative relation to the foot plate, a series of brushes carried by the plunger, a notched disk having a feather and spline brushes carried by each of the gearingconnecting the plungers or causmemes longitudinal axis, and a detent cooperating with the notched disk to impart an'intermediate rotary movement to the plunger and bring the different brushes successively into operative position. v

6. A shoe shining machine including a foot plate, a pair of substantially parallel brush carrying plungers, means for reciprocating theplung'ers back and forth inoperative relation to the foot plate, a series of lungers,

ing a simultaneous rotation thereof about their longitudinal axes, yielding means normally tending to rotate the plungers in one direction, and detent controlled means for imparting an intermittent rotary movement to the plungers to bring the different brushes successively into operative position.

7. A shoe shining machine including a foot plate, a cross head, a pair of substantially parallel brush carrying plungers operatlvely connected to the cross head, means for operatingthe cross head to reciprocate the plungers back and forth in operative relation to the foot plate, a series of brushes carried by each plunger, guides for the plungers, gear wheels having feather and spline connections with the plungers and meshing with each other to cause the plungers to have a simultaneous rotation about their longitudinal axes, acam having a feather and spline connection with one of the plungers, a notched disk having a feather and spline connection with one of the plungers, yielding means normally tending to rotate the plungers in one direction, a detent coiiperating with the notched disk 'to permit an intermittent rotary movement of the plungers to bring the different plungers succestively into operative position, andmeans actuated by the cam for automatically supplying blackin to one set of the brushes.

8. A shoe s ining machine including a foot plate, a main operating shaft, a brush carrylng plunger operative connected to the main shaft and mounte to reciprocate back and forth in operative relation to the foot plate, a series of brushes carried by the plunger, detent controlled means for rotatin the plungers step by step to bring the di erent brushes successively into operative position, and means for intermittently operating the main shaft and actuating the detent controlled means during the periods when the main shaft is at rest.

9. A shoe shining machine including a foot plate, a rear crank shaft, side crank shafts geared to the rear crank shaft, brush carryin plungers operatively connected to the di erent crank shaftsand mounted to reciprocate back and forth in operative relation to the foot plate, aseries of brushes memes carried by each brush carrying plunger, a

plurality of detent controlled means for rotating the respective plungers step b step to bring the detent brushes successive y into each tate t operative position, and means for intermittently operating the crank shafts and actuating all of the detent controlled means for the difierent plungers simultaneously during th:t periods when the crank shafts are at re 10. A shoe shining machine including a foot plate, a rear crank shaft, a side crank shaft geared to the rear crank shaft, cross heads operatively connected to the crank shafts, brush carrying plungers connected to the cross heads and mounted to reciprocate back and forth in operative relation to the foot plate, a series of brushes carried by plunger, yielding means tending to roe plungers about their longitudinal axes, notched disks having feather and spline connections with the plungers, detents cooperating with the notched to permit a step by step'rotation of the plungers and bring the difierent brushes suc cessively into operative position, means for supplying one set of brushes with blacking, and means for intermittently ope'ratmg the crank shafts and actuating the detents of all of the glungers during the periods that the crank afts are at rest.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE W. "of TIN. CHARLES PRICE. 

